中國的考古學家們稱，他們發現了他們認為是世界上最古老的抽水馬桶。

During excavations of ancient palace ruins in the central city of Xi'an in the summer, archaeologists unearthed broken parts of the old toilet as well as a bent flush pipe.

去年夏天，在挖掘 “國家中心城市” 西安市的古代宮殿遺址的過程中，考古學家們發現了古代廁所的破損部分和一根彎曲的沖水管。

In their report, researchers say it could be 2,400 years old. If true, that would make it the oldest flushing toilet ever found. But what they can't say is whether users sat on a seat or squatted over it because the top part is missing.

在他們的報告中，研究人員說這個馬桶可能有2400年的歷史。該發現如果是真的，它將成為迄今為止發現的最古老的抽水馬桶。不過研究人員們無法確定當時使用馬桶的人是坐在座便上還是蹲在座便上，因為廁所的頂部缺失。

Prior to this discovery, the invention of the first flushing toilet was widely credited to English courtier John Harrington, who supposedly installed one for Queen Elizabeth in the 16th Century – though 4,000-year-old drainage systems that might have been connected with toilets have been found in northwest India.

在這個廁所被發現之前，英國朝臣約翰·哈靈頓被公認為是第一個抽水馬桶的發明者，據說他在16世紀為伊麗莎白女王安裝了一個抽水馬桶，盡管人們已在印度西北部發現了有4000年歷史的排水系統，排水系統可能與馬桶是連通的。

The recent find is part of a broader effort to understand ancient Chinese dynasties, including how people lived and how their cities were constructed. Archaeologists are now analysing soil samples collected from the toilets in the hope of finding out what people ate during that time.

這個新的發現是為了了解中國古代王朝的考古工作的一部分，目的包括了解古代人們的生活方式和城市的構建方式。考古學家們現在正在分析從該廁所遺跡里采集的土壤樣本，希望能查明在那段時期生活的人們的飲食情況。

詞匯表

unearthed 發現了
flush 沖水
squatted 蹲著
credited 被認為是…的功勞
drainage 排水系統
dynasties 朝代

閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. Where were the broken parts of the old toilet found?

2. Why don't the researchers know how people used the toilet?

3. Before this discovery, who was thought to have invented the first flushing toilet?

4. Why are archaeologists now examining soil samples from the toilets?

答案

1. Where were the broken parts of the old toilet found?
The parts were found in ancient palace ruins in the central city of Xi'an.

2. Why don't the researchers know how people used the toilet? 
Researchers can't say whether users sat on a seat or squatted over it because the top part is missing.

3. Before this discovery, who was thought to have invented the first flushing toilet?
English courtier John Harrington, who supposedly installed one for Queen Elizabeth in the 16th Century.

4. Why are archaeologists now examining soil samples from the toilets?
Because they are trying to discover what people ate during that time.